Nature Doesn't Explain

While carving the other day, I found myself thinking about the relationship between Nature, art and perfection. There always exists in my work process the struggle to reconcile the ideal of perfection with what I can actually achieve. I believe that this is very common with artists, and can be a very crippling issue. If the piece that you are working on is not as beautiful as you wish; if your technique falters;  if your ideas seem flawed; or if the finished piece does not measure up to the image that you envisioned at it's inception, then there can be real disappointment. At its worst, you can feel like a failure at any point along the creative process. As I pondered this, I was struck by the realization that Nature does not worry at all about such concerns. Quite simply, Nature doesn't explain. It simply exists, and is often imperfect. Despite those imperfections, or often because of them, beauty can be present. It is important as an artist to accept this. The struggle towards perfection can be an enemy to the success of an artpiece. If you labor too long on one area, and make it look as perfect as  possible, another area will appear scanted. The balance vanishes. If you work to make the entire piece absolutely perfect, it can become arid, and can appear stiff and overworked. The trick is to try constantly to do your best work, but to stay loose and as accepting as possible of the work that appears. That work will not be perfect, but it may with luck be very good indeed. The flaws may be quite small, and if they do not damage the overall success of the piece, will not need explanation.